Restoration of A-6 Turret

Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:16 am

I'm planning on getting back to working on my A-6 Turret after my 1942 Indian 741 is done. I am wondering if anybody is interested in seeing the restoration in progress?

Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:40 am

I'm interested, post away!

Scott

Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:52 am

I would be interested as well!

Sun Sep 02, 2007 11:00 am

Okay, when I get started on it again, it will be posted here. The gentleman who restored my L-5 has taken an interest in it, and I told him it would be good to do after my Indian was running (very soon, very soon).

The early A-6 is distinguished by the staggered muzzles of the turret. When John Peters was here, he posted a photo of "Termite's Sting" a Ploesti B-24D Liberator tail turret. If you remember, that is what I have. Here is a thumbnail of how the turret is built. It is mostly built up sheet metal, including the stanchions which mount the gun blocks. There are some forgings. The forgings are to hold the guns, and to hold the roller bearings for moving the turret, and to mount some other hardware on the assembly. The turret is hydraulic powered- a hydraulic motor with a winch drum and cable was the azimuth control- the cable attached to each side of the aircraft, and the cable spooled as the motor turned, moving the turret left and right. The elevation was controlled by a hydraulic ram which moved two large sheet-metal sheaves. The guns attached to these sheaves by the magnesium gun blocks. The guns were staggered because the ammunition cans were built into the turret- one behind the other. For emergency operation, there were two cranks. The right side one worked a series of gearboxes and shafts to turn the winch drum, and the left side one was a set of gearboxes and cables directly on the sheaves mounting the gun blocks- this gave you emergency elevation.

One major problem with this turret is the mounting ring. It is extremely corroded. This ring is a special extrusion and I haven't gotten the turret apart enough to know if it is still made. If it isn't, this is going to be the hardest part of the restoration.

I will post some photos of the turret in current state. It is not much to look at, but several turret collectors have told me it is the best condition early A-6 in existence other than the one on Strawberry Bitch.

Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:27 pm

I have never seen the totals of how many of each turret type was built during WWII. However, since the A6 was for the most part, the only turret type ever put in the tail of the B-24/PB4Y, and since it served as the nose turret on many of them, it stands to reason that an awful lot of them were built. I'll bet you could make the case that after the Sperry ball turret, the A6 was probably the second most produced turret in WWII. Interesting that there are so few left. I suspect the A6 is more rare than the Sperry ball turret but I'm sorry to say that I don't think I have a single part for the A6. You have certaily picked a tough turret to restore. I can't wait to see some photos. Good luck! Albert Stix jr.

Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:54 pm

Forgotten Field wrote:

I'm planning on getting back to working on my A-6 Turret after my 1942 Indian 741 is done. I am wondering if anybody is interested in seeing the restoration in progress?

Not that you need any more motivation, but here is a pic of my 47 chief, we restored. They are great fun, when you finally get them done.